Hydrogen supply unit

Abstract

Hydrogen is generated by heating a metal surface under water to a temperature at which the metal reacts with water to produce hydrogen. The hydrogen can then be used, for example, as a fuel for a motor vehicle engine or another type of engine. The heating can be done electrically by providing an electrical discharge, under water, between the metal surface and another surface. Water and the metal surface are consumed.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for generating hydrogen comprising: a tank for containing water;   a first metal element and a second metal element disposed in said tank;   a metal surface of said first metal element being disposed adjacent to a metal surface of said second metal element with the metal substrates of both surfaces being in an electrical circuit to form respective positive and negative electrodes between which an electrical discharge may be made to take place;   means for moving said metal surface of said first metal element continuously toward said metal surface of said second metal element;   means for providing a current in said electrical circuit which includes said metal surfaces of sufficient intensity such that an electrical discharge between said positive and negative electrodes occurs causing the metal of at least one of said electrodes to react with water in the vicinity thereof resulting in the formation of a metal oxide and the generation of hydrogen; and   means for collecting the generated hydrogen.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first metal element is aluminum. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second metal surface is aluminum. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tank is connected to a heat exchanger, so that water can circulate from the tank, through the heat exchanger, and back to the tank. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus for generating hydrogen comprising a tank containing water, a first metal surface and a second metal surface arranged in the tank, said first metal surface being connected to said second metal surface in an electrical circuit to form a positive and a negative electrode between which an electrical discharge may be made to take place, means for moving the first metal surface relative to the second metal surface, means for providing a current in the electrical circuit formed by the connection of the first and second metal surfaces such current being of sufficient intensity that when applied to the circuit, an electrical discharge between the electrodes will occur causing the elctrodes to react with water in the vicinity thereof resulting in the generation of hydrogen and means for collecting the generated hydrogen, and wherein the first metal surface is a wire and the second metal surface is a drum, the drum being mounted for rotation and the wire being supported so that it approaches the cyclindrical surface of the drum at an angle to a tangent to the drum surface. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the wire is supported by a device which continuously feeds the wire, as it is consumed, towards the drum surface. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein means are provided for sensing the pressure of hydrogen gas in the chamber and for regulating the feed rate of the wire feeding device in accordance with the sensed pressure, to control the hydrogen output.